MENALCAS a Shepherd and DAPHNIS a Neatherd, two Sicilian Lads, contending who should sing best, pawn their Whistles; and choose a Goatherd to be their Judge: who giveth sentence on DAPHNIS his side. The thing is imagined to be done in the Isle of Sicily, by the sea-shore. Of whose singing, this Idillion is called _Bucoliastæ_, that is, "Singers of a Neatherd's Song." _BUCOLIASTÆ_. DAPHNIS, MENALCAS, Goatherd. [Illustration] With lovely Neatherd DAPHNIS on the hills, they say, Shepherd MENALCAS met upon a summer's day: Both youthful striplings, both had yellow heads of hair; In whistling both, and both in singing skilful were. MENALCAS first, beholding DAPHNIS, thus bespake: MENALCAS. "Wilt thou in singing, Neatherd DAPHNIS, undertake To strive with me? For I affirm that, at my will, I can thee pass!" Thus DAPHNIS answered on the hill. DAPHNIS. "Whistler MENALCAS, thou shalt never me excel In singing, though to death with singing thou should'st swell!" MENALCAS. "Then wilt thou see, and something for the victor wage?" DAPHNIS. "I will both see, and something for the victor gage!" MENALCAS. "What therefore shall we pawn, that for us may be fit?" DAPHNIS. "I'll pawn a calf; a wennell lamb lay thou to it!" MENALCAS. "I'll pawn no lamb: for both my Sire and Mother fell Are very hard; and all my sheep at e'en they tell." DAPHNIS. "What then? What shall he gain that wins the victory?" MENALCAS. "A gallant Whistle which I made with notes thrice three, Joined with white wax, both e'en below and e'en above; This will I lay! My father's things I will not move!" DAPHNIS. "And I a Whistle have with notes thrice three a row, Joined with white wax, both e'en below and e'en above. I lately framed it: for this finger yet doth ache With pricking, which a splinter of the reed did make. But who shall be our Judge, and give us audience?" MENALCAS. "What if we call this Goatherd here, not far from hence, Whose dog doth bark hard by the kids?" The lusty boys Did call him, and the Goatherd came to hear their toys. The lusty boys did sing, the Goatherd judgment gave. MENALCAS first, by lot, unto his Whistle brave, Did sing a Neatherd's Song; and Neatherd DAPHNIS then Did sing, by course: but first MENALCAS thus began: MENALCAS. "Ye Groves and Brooks divine, if on his reed MENALCAS ever sang a pleasant Lay; Fat me these lambs! If DAPHNIS here will feed His calves, let him have pasture too I pray!" DAPHNIS. "Ye pleasant Springs and Plants, would DAPHNIS had As sweet a voice as have the nightingales! Feed me this herd! and if the Shepherd's lad MENALCAS comes, let him have all the dales!" MENALCAS.